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“It is half after two,” said Mrs. Temple, when she rose to go.

“Half after two!” said Mr. Mountague, as he handed Mrs. Temple to her carriage–“bless me! can it be so late?”

All the way home Emma and Mrs. Temple were obliged to support the conversation; for Helen was so extremely entertained with watching the clouds passing over the moon, that nothing else could engage her attention.

The gossiping old lady’s information respecting Mr. Mountague was as accurate as the information of gossips usually is found to be. Mr. Mountague, notwithstanding her opinion and sagacity, had thoughts of Miss Helen Temple. During some months which he had spent at his uncle’s, who lived very near Mrs. Temple, he had had opportunities of studying Helen’s character and temper, which he found perfectly well suited to his own; but he had never yet declared his attachment to her. Things were in this undecided situation, when he saw, and was struck with the beauty of Lady Augusta —-, at this archery-ball. Lord George —- introduced him to Lady S—-; and, in consequence of a pressing invitation he received from her ladyship, he went to spend a few days at S—- Hall.

“So Mr. Mountague is going to spend a week at S—- Hall, I find,” said Mrs. Temple, as she and her daughters were sitting at work the morning after the archery-ball. To this simple observation of Mrs. Temple a silence, which seemed as if it never would be broken, ensued.

“Helen, my dear!” said Mrs. Temple, in a soft voice.

“Ma’am!” said Helen, starting.

“You need not start so, my dear; I am not going to say any thing very tremendous. When you and your sister were children, if you remember, I often used to tell you that I looked forward, with pleasure, to the time when I should live with you as friends and equals. That time is come; and I hope, now that your own reason is sufficiently matured to be the guide of your conduct, that you do not think I any longer desire you to be governed by my will. Indeed,” continued she, “I consider you as my equals in every respect but in age; and I wish to make that inequality useful to you, by giving you, as far as I can, that advantage, which only age can give–experience.”

“You are very kind, dear mother,” said Helen.

“But you must be sensible,” said Mrs. Temple, in a graver tone, “that it will depend upon yourselves, in a great measure, whether I can be so much your friend as I shall wish.”

“Oh, mother,” said Helen, ” be my friend! I shall never have a better; and, indeed, I want a friend,” added she, the tears starting from her eyes. “You’ll think me very silly, very vain. He never gave me any reason, I’m sure, to think so; but I did fancy that Mr. Mountague liked me.”

“And,” said Mrs. Temple, taking her daughter’s hand, “without being very silly or very vain, may not one sometimes be mistaken? Then you thought you had won Mr. Mountague’s heart? But what did you think about your own? Take care you don’t make another mistake (smiling). Perhaps you thought he never could win yours?”

“I never thought much about that,” replied Helen, “till yesterday.”

“And to-day,” said Mrs. Temple–“what do you think about it to-day?”

“Why,” said Helen, “don’t you think, mother, that Mr. Mountague has a great many good qualities?”

“Yes; a great many good qualities, a great many advantages, and, amongst them, the power of pleasing you.”

“He would not think that any advantage,” said Helen; “therefore I should be sorry that he had it.”

“And so should I,” said Mrs. Temple, “be very sorry that my daughter’s happiness should be out of her own power.”

“It is the uncertainty that torments me,” resumed Helen, after a pause. “One moment I fancy that he prefers me, the next moment I am certain he prefers another. Yesterday, when we were coming away from the green, I heard Mrs. Hargrave say to Lady S—- but why, mother, should I take up your time with these minute circumstances? I ought not to think any more about it.”